Iowa guide to presidential politics for Sunday, January 1, 2012.

It’s 2012! A new year! An election year! A caucus year!

Gifts aren’t customary for New Year’s, but Rick Santorum got a great big one at 7 p.m. last night, when the Register’s final Iowa Poll before the caucuses placed him in third and surging hard among likely Republican caucusgoers.

Mitt Romney leads the poll with support from 24 percent of respondents, followed by Ron Paul at 22 percent and Santorum at 15 percent. In the poll’s final two days in the field, though, Santorum surged to second, at 21 percent.

Columnist Kathie Obradovich recognizes that the Iowa caucus winner isn’t always the one who takes first, but the one who beats expectations — a fact that bodes well for Santorum.

The Register Recap

SANTORUM UNSURPRISED

The good news for Santorum in the Iowa Poll came as no surprise to the candidate himself and his advisers, Bill Petroski reports. Santorum credited his efforts “building trust” with voters for the late surge that has propelled him into the race’s top tier.

Eighteen protesters participating in demonstrations linked to Occupy the Caucuses were arrested at various Republican candidate campaign headquarters on Saturday. Michele Bachmann referred to those who turned out at her Urbandale headquarters — 10 of whom were arrested — as “Obama’s re-election advance team,” although the demonstrators took their protests to incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama’s campaign office as well.

THE POP ROCKS PRESIDENT

Romney spent New Year’s Eve campaigning in northwest Iowa, and taking tough questions from crowds numbering in the hundreds. In Sioux City, a woman asked him to bring back Pop Rocks, while a man asked him if he broke racketeering laws with his $10,000 bet in a debate last month.

Newt Gingrich lashed out at Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, the federal Department of Education and “activist judges” during stops in western Iowa on Saturday.

NOT MEASURING THE DRAPES

Rick Perry projected presidential confidence on the trail, even as his wife didn’t. He suggested the presidency would prevent him from finishing his term as Texas governor, while she said she was more focused on the campaign task at hand than making plans for life as First Lady.

Michele Bachmann on Saturday reassured her staff and predicted a strong finish in Tuesday’s caucuses despite discouraging poll numbers and a tough week of staff upheaval and dysfunction. She also picked up volunteer support from a contingent of college Republicans from Oral Roberts University, where she studied law.

Other Iowa Mentions

The Times also has a great look inside the various campaign headquarters, noting the ambiance and GOTV tactics and eccentricities of each.

The New York Times also (are you seeing a pattern here?) notices Romney out on the trail quoting and interpreting patriotic songs.

The Times also reports on the politico-media complex that has temporarily taken root in the bars and hotels of downtown Des Moines.

The Times — if you’re wondering whether they’ve basically moved their entire political operation to Des Moines, the answer is yes — also has a nifty graphic illustrating the ins and outs of Iowa political advertising.